ROMANTICISM

ART STYLE IN LIBERAL AND NATIONALIST EUROPE

DEFINITION: Romanticism was a cultural and artistic

movement that predominated in Europe during the first half of the 19th century.

We can observe at least FOUR main charasteristics:

CREATIVE FREEDOM FOR THE ARTIST

Romanticism reflected liberalism, which also emphasised freedom.

LIBERTY LEADING THE PEOPLE– DELACROIX (1831)

RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

Artists reflected their own inner world, without having to follow any established rules.

WANDERER ABOVE THE SEA OF FOG – CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH (1818)

EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS

An artist’s most important role was to transmit

emotions, such as love, unhappinness or

desperation.

THE LADY OF SHALOTT – JOHN WILLIAM WATERHOUSE (1888)

GLORIFICATION OF NATIONAL HISTORY

Nationalism was encouraged in many parts

of Europe during 19th century. Artists wanted to

express nationalist sentiment in their work, and often looked to the

Middle Ages for inspiration.

OSSIAN RECEIVING THE GHOSTS OF FRENCH HEROS – ANNE-LOUIS GIRODET (1802)

THE ARMING AND DEPARTURE OF THE KNIGHTS (TAPESTRY) – EDWARD BURNE-JONES (1893)

ROMANTIC ARCHITECTURERomantic architects glorified their nation´s history, imitating Gothic architecture (Neo-Gothic), and other old stlyes (Neo-Mudejar, Neo-Romanesque, etc.)

PERPENDICULAR GOTHIC STYLE – 1840 TO 1870

ROMANTIC SCULPTURESculptors reflected people´s desire for freedom and independence. This was transmitted through depictions of drama and movement. The most famous Romantic sculptor was Rude.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF 1792 (LA

MARSEILLAISE) – RUDE (1833)

ROMANTIC PAINTINGPainters created idealise depictions of the anguish that people had suffered as a result of the 19th-century liberal revolutions.

THE DEAD OF CHATTERTON – HENRY WALLIS (1856)

THE FIGHTING TEMERAIRE – WILLIAM TURNER (1839)